From astronauts to accountants: STEM provides a valuable foundation for critical thinking and problem solving

Today is national Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) day, and it reminded me of earlier this year when I attended my daughter Alison’s school science presentation—she displayed her learnings on geckos and how their toes have inspired strategies to solve human design challenges. To me, Alison—who’s curious, enjoys playing soccer and the cello—embodies what an investment in STEM education really means: providing people with the opportunity to learn to be flexible, look for patterns, find connections, evaluate information and ultimately build trust within society. 

Among her ambitions Alison hopes to be an economist, an accountant or an astronaut when she grows up--in any case a career that is meaningful and exciting. Similarly, many STEM professions shape the world we live in, including the accounting profession. As the world continues to make improvements in artificial intelligence, aims to meet sustainability commitments like climate goals and more, there’s an increased need in STEM skills. And, let’s face it, technology has and will continue to become an integral and intertwined part of our lives every day. There’s no avoiding the fact that new technologies will continue to change and shape our daily lives, making investing in STEM a key to ensuring technological advancements that deliver progress. 

When Alison shared with me what she learned about geckos for her school project, I noticed how her curiosity, problem solving and critical thinking skills really shined. And those skills resonate with me because as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) I rely on them everyday to shape the work I do. Much like how scientists must be independent thinkers, analyze complex data and more, CPAs are at the forefront of analyzing intricate information, applying skepticism and independent thinking to navigate detailed regulations and standards. 

Investing in STEM means investing in a meaningful career—whether that career is one as an astronaut or accountant. The problem-solving skills developed through STEM are applicable to many careers. I help clients solve important problems every day, and I see how the learnings Alison is gaining from her interest in STEM can directly apply to accounting and other notable professions. STEM provides a foundation that will help the next generation, which includes Alison, achieve their career aspirations while also helping society as a whole solve problems. 

When I think about my career, I’m thankful I made the decision to become a CPA and invest in a STEM education. I knew nothing about accounting when I took my first introduction to accounting course. I wasn’t a math wiz, but my educational path opened so many doors that I never would have imagined. I think the role accountants play would surprise many—it’s not just crunching numbers: it’s working on a team to ultimately solve complex problems. And, I’ve gotten to travel to some pretty cool places in the process too. My training as a CPA has allowed me to pursue new opportunities and carve out a career path that has led me to several public service roles at the SEC and leadership positions here at PwC.

I believe whether you want to own your own business, be a CEO of a multinational company, interpret economic systems, blast into space as an astronaut, or hopefully go into accounting, a foundation in STEM will help get you there. While my hope is for Alison to go on to become a CPA, even if she doesn’t, I know that her STEM education will serve her well in whatever field she chooses. She’ll learn how to problem solve to figure out tomorrow’s challenges and she’ll be able to think critically as the world becomes more complicated. Those are all essential skills that will always be relevant. 

No matter what career path someone chooses, there’s a need for critical thinking and problem solving. The world we live in is becoming increasingly complex, and it will be up to tomorrow’s leaders to navigate it and make the investments in STEM to help our future leaders develop the mindset needed to tackle society’s future challenges.